What it's NOT
confident does NOT translate to confidente.
To say "confidente" in English, use confidant.
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False cognate · False friend
confident
Does NOT mean confidente
It means self-assured
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
confident means self-assured.
Why it's confused
Spanish "confidente" is a trusted person you share secrets with. English "confident" means self-assured, having self-confidence. Both words come from "confidere" but took different paths.
How it's pronounced
confidentCÓN-fi-dent
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Examples of correct use
English
She felt confident before the exam.
Spanish
Se sentía segura antes del examen.
English
He's confident he will win.
Spanish
Está seguro de que ganará.
A trick to remember it
Confident = self-assured. Someone you trust with secrets (Spanish "confidente") = confidant.
Mini quiz
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Frequently asked questions
What does "confident" mean in English?
"Confident" means "self-assured". It looks a lot like "confidente", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "confidente" in English?
To say "confidente" in English, use "confidant". If you use "confident" instead, you would actually be saying "self-assured".
Do "confident" and "confidente" mean the same thing?
Spanish "confidente" is a trusted person you share secrets with. English "confident" means self-assured, having self-confidence. Both words come from "confidere" but took different paths.
Other confusing false friends
More confusing false friends
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